Wexford Bus is overall winner as businesses’ work is praised
ALMOST 500 people packed into Clayton Whites Hotel on Friday night for this year’s Wexford Business Awards ceremony.
The master of ceremonies for the night was comedian, columnist and broadcaster Colm O’Regan, who entertained the audience for the evening.
Speaking at the event, Niall Reck, President of Wexford Chamber, said: ‘I am delighted to see the exceptional calibre of businesses, business people, organisations and civic-minded people who are winners in our tenth anniversary Wexford Business Awards.
‘It is a great pleasure to applaud their success because they give Wexford the ability to compete on the national and international business platform. The awards are about recognition of people and organisations that have made an exceptional contribution to their businesses, operations and customer service.’
Special guests included the Mayor of Wexford Cllr Jim Moore; Minister of State Paul Kehoe; Minister of State Michael D’Arcy; leader of the Labour Party Brendan Howlin; county councillors; deputy chief executive of Wexford County Council Tony Larkin; regional manager with IDA Ireland Brendan McDonald; South east regional development manager of Enterprise Ireland Brian Fives; and Chamber presidents Maree Lyng and Jim Hughes.
Retired Chamber CEO Madeleine Quirke was honoured with the Wexford Chamber President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Business.
Having won the E-Commerce Excellence Award and the Service Industry Provider of the Year Award, Wexford Bus also took the coveted Overall Business of the Year Award.
Lorene Crowley, commercial director with Wexford Bus, said: ‘We are delighted to have received these awards especially when we were in the company of such a high calibre of organisations. Wexford Bus has a very strong team and each of the drivers, mechanics and office staff can be proud of these awards as everyone has contributed to the organisations success.’
Enda Kavanagh, CEO of Wexford Chamber, said: ‘Congratulation to all the winners – phenomenal results from a very high standard of applications. I believe that Wexford is a great county for business and has fantastic potential for growth ahead of it and can attract substantial investment in all areas. For business, tourism and education, Wexford is up there with the best locations in the world.’
She said the judging panel had commented on the exceptional quality of this year’s entries, saying that all of the companies were winners, having put their heart and soul into Wexford.
Tony Larkin, deputy chief executive of Wexford County Council, said: ‘There is great energy and positivity in Wexford at present and we are working to bring new changes and driving regional development. I would like to congratulate all the winners and I would like to commend the exemplary work done by Wexford Chamber in all that they do to encourage and support the business community here in Wexford.’
ALL THE WINNERS
Wexford E-Commerce Excellence sponsored by AIB Wexford: Winner – Wexford Bus; Runner Up – Mr Oil.
Wexford Operational Excellence sponsored by Datapac: Winner – Pure
Oil Ltd; Runner Up – Reynaers Ltd.
Wexford Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility sponsored by BNY Mellon: Winner – K&K Windows Ltd; Runner Up – Halo Tiles and Bathrooms.
Wexford Family Business of the
Year sponsored by PwC: Winner – K&K Windows Ltd; Runner Up – Smyths Arro.
Wexford Food & Beverage Producer of the Year sponsored by Wright Insurance Brokers: Winner – Trudies Kitchen Ltd; Runner Up – O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon Co.
Wexford Franchise of the Year sponsored by Permanent tsb: Winner – Bricks 4 Kidz Wexford; Runner Up – Sherry FitzGerald Haythornthwaite.
Wexford Hospitality Provider of the
Year sponsored by Rosslare Europort: Winner – Clayton Whites Hotel;
Runner Up – Mary Barrys Bar Ltd.
Wexford Green Award: Environmental Best Practice sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland: Winner – The Upcycle Movement; Runner Up – Danone Nutricia Wexford.
Wexford Excellence in International Trade sponsored by Rosslare
Europort: Winner – Kent Stainless;
Runner Up – Medentech.
Wexford Service Industry Provider of the Year sponsored by Danone Nutricia Wexford: Winner – Wexford Bus; Runner Up – Fergus Flanagan Architects Ltd.
Wexford SME of the Year 50+ Employees sponsored by Waters Technology:
Winner – Summit Scaffolding Ltd;
Runner Up – YellowBelly Beer.
Social Enterprise Outstanding Achievement sponsored by Wexford
Local Development: Winner – Wexford
Arts Centre; Runner Up – Kilmore Quay Community Development Association.
Wexford Start Up Business of the Year sponsored by Morgan McKinley La Creme: Winner – Abodoo; Runner Up – IOAC International Outdoor Adventure Centre and Camping Grounds.
Wexford Training Provider of the
Year sponsored by IT Carlow, Wexford Campus: Winner – The OmniPro
Group; Runner Up – Dulann.com
Wexford Visitor Attraction/Activity of the Year sponsored by Rosslare Europort: Winner – IOAC Internationl Outdoor Adventure Centre and Camping Grounds.
Wexford Social Media and Digital Marketing Excellence sponsored by the Wexford People: Winner – Nailbou; Runner Up – Talbot Suites at Stonebridge.
Wexford Excellence in Retaiil sponsored by Zurich Insurance: Winner – Natural Health Store Ltd; Runner
Up – Halo Tiles and Bathrooms.
Wexford Overall Business of the
Year Award sponsored by Wexford
County Council: Wexford Bus.
Wexford Chamber’s Outstanding Contribution to Business Award sponsored by Monart Destination
Spa: Madeleine Quirke.
(Award presentation photographs by Joeleen Codd)